Sri Sumangala Balika, Panadura excels in hockey

S M Jiffrey Abdeen - Kandy Sports Corr

Sri Sumangala Balika Vidyalaya, Panadura, who took to hockey only around two years have shown tremendous improvement and their best ever performance at junior level was when they finished second runner-up and clinched the third place by defeating the strong Seetha Devi Balika Vidyalaya, Kandy 2-1 on penalty strokes at last week’s all island schools girls under 14 hockey championship organised by the Sri Lanka Schools Hockey Association and played at the Asgiriya Stadium, Kandy.

Their performance was no ‘flash in the pan’ as they displayed consistency throughout the tournament and they overcame several stronger opponents in a display of grit and determination and the will to perform well. In the group matches they beat Yasodara Balika Vidyalaya, Colombo 1-0 sounding a warning to other schools. Next they beat Christ Church College from the hockey town of Matale by the comfortable margin of 2-0 an they drew with Seetha Devi Balika Vidyalaya 0-0 to end up as leaders of their group which was a major achievement for a school from a town where very little hockey is played.

In the pre-quarters the stickers from Sri Sumangala Balika Vidyalaya came up with a stupendous performance when they beat the top favourites Sangamiththa Balika Vidyalaya from Matale once again by the good margin of 2-0. The two Illeperuma sisters put up a dazzling display – Disara and Dinara scoring a goal each which effectively put the Matale girls out of the tournament.

Then came the quarter finals and they downed another strong side Musaeus College, Colombo 1-0 after a close battle and the match winning goal was shot by skipper and centre forward Senuri Nirosha. In the semi finals they met the giant killers of the tournament and the ultimate Joint champions Samudra Devi Banlika Vidyalaya, Kandy and put up a brave show before losing 0-1.

In the consolation finals they were once again held to a draw by Seetha Devi Balika Vidyalaya (0-0) but they edged them out in the penalty strokes 2-1 to clinch the third place. The team was captained by Senuri Nirosha and coached by Ayeshmantha Lahiru Bandara and the Teacher-in-Charge is Chandani Priyanthi.

Last year at the Royal College (Blue and Gold) under 19 hockey Sevens they finished Bowl runners-up.

Their performance at the all island under 14 hockey championship by defeating top schools is clear indication of the significant progress they have made during this short period.